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The US government has levied restrictions on a network of several persons and entities charged of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Announcing the measures on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the network was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a force linked to terrible atrocities such as targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light the previous year, following an investigation which found that over three hundred former soldiers had been contracted to fight – an event that led to an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, training on Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have allegedly instructed minors, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer operating from the UAE. The government alleged he played a key part in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated oversaw a company linked to handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "Recently, US-based firms associated with Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the official announcement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted financial transactions associated with Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the Treasury stated.

Reaction

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, labeled the measures as a "highly important" step, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

She added that, Colombia has enacted a law approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and transform national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.